ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR_524

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

al., 2005; Beja-Pereira et al., 2006) and possibly also 5 Transformations in livestock
in Asian cattle (Mannen et al., 2004). following domestication

Unravelling the geographic pattern and history Mutation, selective breeding, and adaptation have
of the dispersal of livestock is essential to the shaped the diversity of livestock populations. The
identification of geographic areas with high levels domestication process resulted in many changes
of diversity, which are potential priority areas some of which may still be ongoing. Particularly
for conservation efforts. This requires extensive important have been morphological changes.
mapping of genetic diversity. Up to now, very Domestic animals are generally smaller than their
few studies have been undertaken in this field. wild ancestral counterparts (the notable exception
However, a recent study of cattle, covering Europe, being the chicken). Smaller animals are easier to
Africa and West Asia, indicates that the highest manage and to handle, they may reach puberty
degree of diversity is found in areas that are at sooner, and large flocks or herds can be kept more
the crossroads of admixture between populations easily (Hall, 2004). The small West African cattle,
from different centres of domestication (Freeman sheep and dwarf goats are extreme examples
et al., 2006). An extensive survey of goat diversity of size reduction, possibly the result of genetic
in Europe and the Near and Middle East clearly bottlenecks following adaptation to the tropical
indicates a geographical partitioning of goat humid environment and its parasitic disease
diversity, with a large proportion of the genetic challenges. In some cases, human selection has
diversity among breeds explained by their deliberately resulted in extreme size differences –
geographic origins (Cañón et al., 2006). illustrated by the small size of the Shetland pony
and the large size of the Shire horse (Clutton-
Today, local and regional, as well as Brock, 1999).
transcontinental movement of livestock
genotypes is accelerating as a result of the The body conformation of domestic animals
development and marketing of high-yielding may also be distinct from that of the wild ancestors
breeds, new breeding technologies, and the – adapting, for example, to satisfy demand for
increasing demand for livestock products. This meat products (e.g. European beef breeds), or
modern dispersion, essentially restricted to a to cope with new environmental pressures (e.g.
few breeds, and almost exclusively involving Sahelian goats). Selection for muscular mass has
transfers from developed to developing often resulted in greater muscular development
countries, represents a major threat to the of the hind quarters relative to the shoulders
conservation and utilization of indigenous (Hall, 2004). An extreme example of selection
AnGR (see Section C for a further discussion of for muscular mass is the double-muscling trait
current gene flows). observed in some European beef breeds, and in
some sheep and pigs breeds. In cattle, the trait
results from mutation at a single gene – the
myostatin gene (Grobet et al., 1998). In sheep, it
involves the callipyge gene (Cockett et al., 2005).

The pattern of fat deposition may also show
changes following domestication. For example,
reduced predation has encouraged fat deposition
in domestic poultry. In domesticated mammals,
the hump of the Zebu and the tails of fat-tailed
and fat-rumped sheep are striking examples of
selection for fat deposition. This exaggerated
fat deposition may be quite ancient, with fat-

17

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

tailed sheep already common in western Asia by 6 Conclusions
3000 BC, and humped cattle depicted on cylinder
seals from the ancient civilizations of Mohenjo- Understanding of the origin and subsequent
Daro and Harappa in the Indus Valley about 2500 history and evolution of AnGR diversity is essential
to 1500 BC (Clutton-Brock 1999). to the design of sustainable conservation and
utilization strategies. Livestock diversity originates
Great variation is found in the wool and hair from the wild ancestors, and was subsequently
coats of most domestic species. For example, shaped through the processes of mutation, genetic
sheep breeds of alpine regions have particularly drift, and natural and human selection. Only a
thick woolly coats, while breeds from the African subset of the diversity present in the ancestral
Sahel lack wool. It is probable that these changes species survived in the domestic counterparts.
were the result of mutations followed by artificial However, domestic livestock diversity has been
selection, perhaps as early as 6000 BC, as illustrated continuously evolving. Reshuffling of genes at
by a statuette of a woolly sheep found in the each generation, mutation, and cross-breeding or
Islamic Republic of Iran (Clutton-Brock, 1999). admixture of different gene pools has offered new
opportunities for natural and human selection.
Coat and plumage coloration were also selected This has been the basis of the enormous gains
by the environment, with light coloured animals in output achieved in commercial breeds, and of
being more adapted to hotter environments and the adaptation of indigenous livestock to highly
dark coloured animals to cooler environments diverse and challenging environments.
(Hall 2004). Coat colours have also been influenced
by cultural selection. Livestock breeders in the However, the world’s livestock diversity is
developed world often favour uniformity in coat currently shrinking – with rapid and uncontrolled
colour, but in the tropics, diversity in coat colour loss of unique and often uncharacterized AnGR. If
may be preferred for ceremonial reasons, or a breed or population becomes extinct, this means
simply to facilitate the identification of individual the loss of its unique adaptive attributes, which
animals. An illustration of the latter is the great are often under the control of many interacting
diversity in coat colours and patterns observed genes, and are the results of complex interactions
among the Nguni cattle of the Zulu people between the genotype and the environment.
(Poland et al., 2003).

It is important to realize that local adaptation,
human and/or natural selection will not always
result in reduced genetic variation or functional
diversity in the livestock population. For example,
natural selection may favour adaptive diversity
within herds kept in changing environments (e.g.
as a result of climatic variation). A recent study
of the genetic diversity of the six most important
milk proteins in cattle revealed higher diversity in
a relatively restricted geographic area of northern
Europe, with selection pressure imposed by early
(milk drinking) pastoralists being the most likely
explanation (Beja-Pereira et al, 2003).

18

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

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Section B

Status of animal
genetic resources

1 Introduction

This section presents a global overview of the regional distribution of livestock species and
diversity and status of AnGR. The analysis is based breeds is then presented, followed by an overview
on FAO’s Global Databank for Animal Genetic of the risk status of the world’s livestock breeds.
Resources for Food and Agriculture (Global Finally, trends in risk status over this six year period
Databank), as it is the only such resource that are assessed.
provides worldwide coverage. It serves as an
updated (but condensed) version of the World 2 State of reporting
Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity2 (WWL–
DAD), the previous (third) edition of which was The total number of breed records in the
published in 2000. Box 4 outlines changes in the Global Databank has increased greatly since
approach to reporting and data analysis that have the publication of the WWL–DAD:3 (Table 5).
been introduced for the State of the World’s Animal The total number of entries rose from 6 379 in
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW- December 1999 to 14 017 in January 2006. The
AnGR) preparation process. The section begins by increase was particularly marked in the case of
describing the state of reporting on AnGR, and avian breed populations, for which the number
the progress made during the period December of records increased from 1 049 to 3 505. In the
1999 to January 2006. A description of the current case of mammalian species the number rose from
5 330 to 10 512. Nearly all breed populations
2 FAO/UNEP 2000. World watch list for domestic animal diversity, reported (94 percent) are domesticated livestock,
3rd edition, edited by B.D. Scherf, Rome. (also available at only 1 percent are feral, and less than 1 percent
http://www.fao.org/dad-is).

TABLE 5
Status of information recorded in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources

Year of Mammalian species Avian species Countries
analysis covered
Number of national % with population Number of national % with population
breed populations data breed populations data

1993 2 719 53 - - 131
85 172
1995 3 019 73 863 77 172

1999 5 330 63 1 049

2006 10 512 43 3 505 39 182*

*No data recorded for Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Gaza Strip, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
Monaco, Nauru, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Western Sahara.

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THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

are wild populations (for the remaining 4 percent the number of breed entries and the number for
no specification was given). which population data are available is in part
accounted for by the fact that much of the latest
While the number of breeds recorded has data entered into the Global Databank were
increased, the percentage of breeds for which extracted from Country Reports. These reports
population data are available, decreased from often mention the existence of breeds, but do not
77 to 39 percent for avian breeds, and from 63 include details of population size.
to 43 percent for mammalian breeds (Table 5
and Figure 5). Furthermore, where population Before analysis of the global state of breed
figures are reported, they may not have been diversity and risk status could be undertaken,
updated recently. The large discrepancy between some adjustments to the raw figures for the

Box 4
What is new compared to the World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity?

In 1991, FAO initiated global breed surveys to report greatly increased. The new analysis attempts to
on the seven major mammalian domestic animal correct this bias by linking national breed populations
species (ass, buffalo, cattle, goat, horse, pig and that belong to a common gene pool. This linkage
sheep). Additional surveys were initiated in 1993 to was implemented based on expert knowledge and
include yaks, the six camelid species and the 14 major revised by NCs. However, a clear definition of what
avian species. Collection of data for deer species and constitutes a common gene pool is still lacking. The
rabbits followed, and these species were included in linked breeds are referred to as transboundary breeds
the third edition of the World Watch List for Domestic (Box 5). Risk status for these breeds is estimated
Animal Diversity (WWL–DAD:3) published in 2000. based on the overall number of animals belonging to
In order to produce a more complete inventory, the breed in question.
FAO provided, during 2005, for the extraction of
breed-related data from 169 Country Reports, and The method of assessing breed diversity at regional
the entry of these data into the Global Databank for and global levels has also been adapted: at the
Animal Genetic Resources. Subsequently, National regional level, breeds that reside in more than one
Coordinators (NCs) were requested to validate and country, but only within the SoW-AnGR region in
further complete their national breed databanks. question, are now counted only once for the region
regardless of how many national-level populations
The WWL–DAD:3 (2000) was criticized for there may be. International transboundary breeds,
overestimating the number of breeds categorized which occur in many regions, are counted only once at
as being “at risk”. This overestimation occurred the global level.
because risk status was assigned to each national
breed population based on the population size in the When comparing the WWL–DAD:3 with the
particular country. Thus, in the case of breeds that figures provided in this Report, it must be noted that
occur in more than one country, there was a danger the classification of regions has also been changed.
that the categorization was not a true reflection Southwest Pacific and Asia are here considered to be
of risk status. This problem had previously been separate regions, while “Asia and the Pacific” was
recognized, but at the time the emphasis of reporting considered a single region in WWL–DAD 3. Moreover,
was on local breeds. For the SoW-AnGR process, it should be noted that the regional classification used
countries decided to consider all their AnGR (both in this Report is also different from the standard FAO
local and imported). The number of breeds wrongly regional classification.
categorized as being at risk would, therefore, have

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THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Box 5 Transboundary breeds: breeds that occur in more
Glossary: populations, breeds, regions than one country. These are further differentiated as:

Wild populations: represent either wild relatives of – Regional transboundary breeds:
domesticated livestock, wild populations that are used transboundary breeds that occur only in one of
for food and agriculture, or populations undergoing the seven SoW-AnGR regions.
domestication.
– International transboundary breeds:
Feral populations: animals are considered to be feral transboundary breeds that occur in more than
if they or their ancestors were formerly domesticated, one region.
but they are now living independently of humans; for
example, dromedaries in Australia. SoW-AnGR regions: seven regions were defined for
the SoW-AnGR: Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caucasus,
Local breeds: breeds that occur only in one country. Latin America and the Caribbean, the Near and Middle
East, North America, and the Southwest Pacific.

FIGURE 5
Proportion of national breed populations for which population figures have been reported

Southwest Avian 20 112
Pacific Mammalian 88 310

North America Avian 89 2
Mammalian 200 100%
126

Near & Avian 14 46
Middle East Mammalian
49 127 172
212
Latin America & Avian 309

the Caribbean 1 428
Mammalian

Europe & Avian 865 617
the Caucasus Mammalian 2 344 1 144

Asia Avian 248 1 080 352 851
Africa Mammalian 80%
75 276
Avian 519 40% 1 077
Mammalian 20%
60%
0%

with population data without population data

25

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

number of breed populations were required. Slightly more than half of the total number
Four hundred and eighty entries classified as of recorded national breed populations
“strains” or “lines” were excluded from the (6 792 entries) occur in more than one country.
analysis (in the case of avian species, further These breed populations have been linked and
validation by national and regional experts to are defined as “transboundary” breeds (Box 5).
link lines and strains to the respective breeds is The risk status assigned to a transboundary breed
needed). Furthermore, 209 breed populations takes into account all reported populations for the
that obviously belonged to the same breed, but breed in question. Breed populations occurring
had been reported twice from the same country only in one country are defined as “local” breeds.
were excluded. These adjustments left a total Transboundary breeds are classified as either
of 13 328 breed populations for inclusion in the “regional” or “international”, depending on the
analysis of diversity and risk status. extent of their distribution (Box 5).

TABLE 6
Distribution of mammalian species by region

Mammalian Africa Asia Europe Latin Near & North Southwest
species America Pacific
& the America Middle East
0 8
Caucasus & the 100 77
0
Caribbean 0 69
100 31
percentage of countries in a region reporting breed-related information for the species 100 92
100 8
Buffalo 8 57 25 27 25 50 23
100 0
Cattle 98 96 100 94 75 8
0 8
Yak 0 32 2 0 0 0 0
0 0
Goat 96 96 93 94 83 0 0
0 15
Sheep 92 86 100 91 100 0 0
50 0
Pig 70 82 91 91 8 0 0
0
Ass 38 46 36 39 50 0

Horse 46 93 91 64 58

Bactrian camel 0 25 5 0 0

Dromedary 32 25 2 0 58

Alpaca 2 0 0 12 0

Llama 0 0 0 15 0

Guanaco 00090

Vicuña 0 0 0 12 0

Deer* 2 25 14 9 0

Rabbit 38 39 39 48 8

Guinea pig 8 0 0 15 0

Dog 2 7 5 0 0

Shading: purple: ≥50% of countries; green: <50% of countries and ≥10% of countries; yellow: <10% of countries; white: no country.

*The main deer species under domestication are the Red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus), Sika deer (C. nipon nipon), Wapiti (C. elaphus
canadensis), Sambar (C. unicolor unicolor), Hog deer (Axis porcinus), Fallow deer (Dama dama), Rusa or Javan deer (C. timorensis russa),
Chital or Axis deer (Axis axis), Reindeer/Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus), Pere David’s deer (Elaphurus
davidianus) and the Moose/Elk (Alces alces).

26

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

TABLE 7
Distribution of avian species by region

Avian species Africa Asia Europe Latin Near & North Southwest

& the America Middle America Pacific

Caucasus & the East

Caribbean

percentage of countries in a region reporting breed-related information for the species

Chicken 78 93 86 70 50 100 85
46
Duck (domestic) 32 61 50 33 17 0 8
8
Turkey 24 43 57 30 17 100

Goose (domestic) 16 39 61 21 17 50

Muscovy duck 16 39 20 18 17 0 62
Guinea fowl
28 18 11 9 8 0 0

Partridge 477000 0

Pheasant 079600 0
Quail 2 39 14 6 0 50 0
Peacock 000300 0

Pigeon 10 21 9 6 17 0 15

Swallow 040000 0

Cassowary 042000 0

Emu 242300 8
Ñandu 002600 0
Ostrich 12 11 7 0 0 0 8

Shading: purple: ≥50% of countries; green: <50% of countries and ≥10% of countries; yellow: <10% of countries; white: no country.

3 Species diversity

Only about 40 of the 50 000 known avian and Tables 6 and 7). Goats are much less numerous in
mammalian species have been domesticated. the Americas, and Europe and the Caucasus, than
DAD-IS now reports breed-related information in other regions; and, for religious reasons, pigs
on 18 mammalian species (Table 6), 16 avian are notably lacking in Muslim countries.
species (Table 7) and two fertile interspecies
crossings (Bactrian camel × dromedary, and duck
× Muscovy duck). On a global scale, five species
– cattle, sheep, chickens, goats, and pigs – show
widespread distribution and particularly large
numbers. The first three are the most widely
distributed domestic species globally, while
the latter two are less evenly spread (Figure 6,

27

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

FIGURE 6
Regional distribution of major livestock species in 2005

Species and world
population (millions)

Cattle

1 345

Sheep

1 053

Goat

786
Pig
960

Chicken

16 696

20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

North America Caribbean North & West Africa Europe & Near & Middle East Central Asia Southwest Pacific
South America Southern Africa South Asia
Central America East Africa the Caucasus East Asia
Southeast Asia

Source: FAOSTAT (available at http://faostat.fao.org).

3.1 The big five FIGURE 7
Distribution of the world’s mammalian breeds
The world has over 1.3 billion cattle – about one by species
for every five people on the planet. Cattle are
important in all seven regions. Asia (most notably 5% 3% 3% 22% Buffalo
India and China) with 32 percent of the world 14% 12% Cattle
total, and Latin America with 28 percent (Brazil 3% Goat
has the world’s largest cattle population), are 12% Sheep
the dominant regions for this species (Figure 6). Pig
Large cattle populations are also found in Africa 25% Ass
(highest numbers in the Sudan and Ethiopia), Horse
and Europe and the Caucasus (highest numbers Rabbit
in the Russian Federation and France). Elsewhere, Others
the United States of America and Australia have
large national herds. Cattle breeds contribute

Mammalian species with more than 100 recorded breeds are

28 displayed separately; the remaining mammalian species are
aggregated as others.

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

FIGURE 8 the total number of recorded mammalian breeds
Distribution of the world’s avian breeds in the world.
by species
Goats are the least numerous of the five major
6% 63% Chicken livestock species. There are about 800 million
3% Duck worldwide – one for every eight people. Some 70
3% Turkey percent of the world’s goats are in Asia and the
9% Goose Near and Middle East, with the largest populations
Guinea fowl being found in China, India and Pakistan. Africa
5% Pigeon accounts for most of the rest of the world’s goats,
Others with only about 5 percent being found in Latin
11% American and the Caribbean, and Europe and the
Caucasus. Goat breeds contribute 12 percent to
Avian species with more than 50 recorded breeds are the total number of recorded mammalian breeds
displayed separately; the remaining avian species are in the world.
aggregated as others.
Chickens outnumber humans by 2.5 to 1
22 percent of the world’s total number of worldwide. There are nearly 17 billion, about
recorded mammalian livestock breeds (Figure 7). half of which are in Asia, and another quarter in
Latin America and the Caribbean. Europe and the
The world’s sheep population is just over one Caucasus has a further 13 percent of the world’s
billion – one for roughly every six people. Nearly flock, followed by Africa with 7 percent. Chicken
half are found in Asia and the Near and Middle breeds make up a large majority of the total
East (largest populations in China, India and the number of avian breeds in the world (Figure 8).
Islamic Republic of Iran); Africa, Europe and the
Caucasus, and the Southwest Pacific have around 3.2 Other widespread species
15 percent each; and 8 percent are found in
Latin America and the Caribbean. In contrast to Horses, asses and ducks are also found in all
goats, which are largely restricted to developing regions; however, they are less numerous than the
regions, several developed countries, most five species discussed above, and show a less even
notably Australia, New Zealand and the United distribution than cattle, sheep and chickens.
Kingdom, also have large sheep populations.
Sheep are the species with the highest number of The world’s 54 million horses are widely
recorded breeds (contributing 25 percent to the distributed. The country with the largest number
global total for mammals). is China, followed by Mexico, Brazil, and the
United States of America. Other countries with
There are about a billion pigs in the world – over a million horses are Argentina, Colombia,
one for every seven people. About two-thirds are Mongolia, the Russian Federation, Ethiopia and
found in Asia – the vast majority in China, with Kazakhstan. The contribution of horse breeds
significant numbers also in Viet Nam, India and to the total number of mammalian breeds
the Philippines. Europe and the Caucasus has a in the world (14 percent) far outweighs their
fifth of the world’s pigs, and the Americas another contribution in terms of animal numbers.
15 percent. Pig breeds contribute 12 percent to
Asses are the transport animal of the poor and
of areas that lack a well-developed transport
infrastructure. As such, they are predominantly
found in the developing regions of the world.
The largest numbers are in Asia, Africa, and
Latin America and the Caribbean. They are also
widely distributed in the Near and Middle East.

29

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

The country with the largest ass population contribute 3 percent to the world’s total number
is China, where Mao Zedong popularized the of recorded mammalian breeds.
animal to decrease the drudgery of rural women.
Breed diversity is thought to be less than in other The yak is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. The
species; asses contribute only 3 percent to the largest populations are in China and Mongolia,
world’s total number of recorded mammalian with small numbers present in the Russian
breeds. However, asses – and research on them Federation, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
– are often stigmatized, so it is likely that many Kyrgyzstan and India. In many parts of the
breeds have not yet been reported. Himalaya, yak hybrids with cattle are extremely
important. Yaks have also been introduced to
Domestic ducks show an even less homogenous the Caucasus, North America (3 000 animals),
pattern of distribution than asses. They have a long and many countries in Europe. The total number
history of domestication, and were kept in ancient of recorded yak breeds is small, which reflects
Egypt, Mesopotamia, China and the Roman the narrow geographical and agro-ecological
Empire. However, production is now concentrated distribution of the species.
in China, which has 70 percent of the world’s
domestic duck population. Other major producers Dromedaries, and particularly Bactrian
are Viet Nam, Indonesia, India, Thailand and other camels, also have quite a narrow geographical
countries in Southeast Asia. Among European distribution, and are confined to more arid agro-
countries, France and Ukraine have large numbers ecological zones. Accordingly, their share of
of ducks. Duck breeds (excluding Muscovy ducks) breed diversity is relatively small. The dromedary,
contribute 11 percent to the total number of or one-humped camel, plays an important role
recorded avian breeds in the world. in the Near and Middle East, Africa and Asia. In
Asia, the camel population is currently in stark
3.3 Species with a narrower decline, although it is stable in Africa. In Africa,
distribution Somalia, the Sudan, Mauritania and Kenya have
the largest populations, while India and Pakistan
Some mammalian species, such as buffaloes, yaks, account for most Asian camels. The two-humped
camelids and rabbits, and some avian species, such Bactrian camel is confined largely to Central and
as domestic geese and turkeys, have a narrow East Asia, with Mongolia and China having the
distribution and are of particular importance in largest populations.
one or two regions or in a specific agro-ecological
zone. Four species of camelids originate in South
America: the domesticated llama and alpaca, and
The domestic buffalo is originally an Asian the wild guanaco and vicuña. The vast majority
animal – 98 percent of the world’s herd of 170 of llamas are found in Peru and Bolivia; small
million animals are found in this region, principally numbers are found in zoos and among hobbyists
in India, Pakistan, China and Southeast Asia. It in other countries. Guanacos and vicuñas are
has been introduced to south and southeastern utilized for fibre, hide and meat production. The
Europe, as well as to Egypt, Brazil, Papua New total number of recorded camelid breeds is small
Guinea and Australia. Buffaloes are now reported compared to many other livestock species. The
from 41 countries worldwide. There are two main South American species are very largely restricted
types of buffalo: riverine (from South Asia), an to the one region and to high altitudes.
important dairy producer especially in South Asia;
and swamp (from East Asia) which played a major The majority of the world’s farmed rabbits
role as a working animal in wet rice cultivation are found in Asia, with the largest population
in Southeast Asia until the introduction of the being in China. Large populations are also found
“iron buffalo” – the hand tractor. Buffalo breeds in several Central Asian countries and in the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. In Europe

30

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

and the Caucasus, the largest population is found and international transboundary breeds are quite
in Italy. Rabbit breeds make up 5 percent of the similar in mammalian species, while in avian
total number of recorded mammalian breeds in species there are twice as many international
the world. Guinea pigs are significant only in the transboundary breeds as there are regional
Latin American and the Caribbean region, largely transboundary breeds.
in Peru and Bolivia.
In all regions of the world, mammalian breeds
Domestic geese and turkeys also have a relatively outnumber avian breeds. In all regions except
narrow distribution. This distribution can be for Europe and the Caucasus, mammalian
explained by tradition and consumer preferences breeds make up nearly three-quarters of all
rather than by agro-ecological conditions. Nearly breeds reported. There is, however, considerable
90 percent of the world’s domestic geese are variation between regions in terms of the share
found in China. Egypt, Romania, Poland and of the three breed categories in the total number
Madagascar together have more than half of of breeds (Figure 10). In Europe and the Caucasus,
the rest. Turkeys originated in Central America. Asia, and the Near and Middle East, local breeds
They were brought to Europe shortly after their make up about three-quarters of all breeds. In
discovery by colonists, and many distinct breeds Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean, the
were developed in Europe. Europe and the share of local breeds is smaller, but still exceeds
Caucasus is the region with the largest population two-thirds of all breeds. Conversely, international
of domestic turkeys (43 percent), while North transboundary avian and mammalian breeds
America has over one-third of population. Goose dominate in the Southwest Pacific and North
and turkey breeds contribute 9 and 5 percent America. Regional transboundary mammalian
respectively to the global total of avian breeds. breeds are relatively numerous in Europe and the
Caucasus, Africa, and to lesser extent Asia, while it
4 Breed diversity is only in Europe and the Caucasus that there are
a significant number of regional transboundary
4.1 Overview avian breeds.

A global total of 7 616 breeds have been For the assessment of the breed diversity
reported; 6 536 are local breeds and 1 080 are being maintained in the regions, international
transboundary breeds. Among the transboundary transboundary breeds were excluded, as they
breeds, 523 are regional transboundary breeds cannot be assigned to a particular region. Europe
occurring only in one region (1 413 national-level and the Caucasus, and Asia are home to the
entries); and 557 are international transboundary largest share of breeds of most of the world’s
breeds with a wider distribution (5 379 national- major livestock species (Table 8). Camels are the
level entries). A total of 690 breeds are classified as exception, with the largest number of breeds
extinct, of which nine are transboundary breeds. being found in Africa. In terms of population
In the following analysis of breed diversity, extinct size, Asia is the dominant region for most species.
breeds are excluded. Exceptions include camels (Africa), turkeys (Europe
and the Caucasus) and horses (44 percent of which
Figure 9 shows the share of local, regional are found in Latin America and the Caribbean).
transboundary and international transboundary
breeds among the mammalian and avian breeds It can be seen from Table 8 that the Europe and
of the world (excluding extinct breeds). More the Caucasus region’s share of breeds is far higher
than two-thirds of reported breeds belong to than its population share in most species. The
mammalian species. The numbers of regional turkey is an exception to the pattern. Although
the region’s share of breeds is the highest in the
world for this species, the population share is

31

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

almost the same. The large number of breeds in FIGURE 10
Europe and the Caucasus is partly a result of the Number of local and transboundary breeds at
fact that many of these breeds are recognized as regional level
separate entities, but are in fact closely related
genetically. It also reflects the more advanced Africa Asia
state of breed recording and characterization in 180
this region, compared for example, to most parts 203 432 177
of sub-Saharan Africa where efforts are restricted 68
by a lack of technical and human resources. Asia
also accounts for a high proportion of the world’s 6
breeds in many species, but the region’s share of
the total population is in most cases even higher 60 6
(exceptions are turkeys, and Bactrian camels and 95 71
dromedaries).
519 1 257
FIGURE 9
Number of local and transboundary breeds at Europe and the Caucasus Latin America and the Caribbean
global level 300
147 218
866 211 30
1
71 91
140
World
399 1 536

1,728 430 398

Near and Middle East North America

85 43 55 1 26

157 16 4 62
134

4,127 109 18
194
Mammalian species
International transboundary breeds Southwest Pacific
Regional transboundary breeds
Local breeds 34 Mammalian species
68 International transboundary breeds
Avian species Regional transboundary breeds
International transboundary breeds 114
Regional transboundary breeds 166 Local breeds
Local breeds
Avian species
Please note that for these figures international transboundary breeds International transboundary breeds
are counted once in each region, where they occur. Thus, international Regional transboundary breeds
transboundary breeds are counted more than once. Local breeds

32 4

Values show the number of breeds belonging to each group
present in the respective region.

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

TABLE 8
Proportion of the world’s population size (2005) and number of local and regional transboundary
breeds (January 2006) of the major livestock species by region

Species Africa Asia Europe & the Caucasus Latin America & the Caribbean

pop. breed pop. breed pop. breed pop. breed
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

Buffalo 0 2 97 73 09 1 9
11 31 28 14
Cattle 14 19 32 26 4 33 4 5
18 48 7 4
Goat 22 18 62 35 20 32 8 12
4 28 20 15
Sheep 16 12 36 25 13 48 44 11
23 0 0
Pig 2 9 62 41 00 100 100
24 76 1 7
Ass 27 14 38 28

Horse 6 7 25 24

Bactrian camel & dromedary 40 47 20 24

South American camelids 00 00

Rabbit 0 7 74 8

Chicken 68 48 22 14 58 15 8
Duck & Muscovy duck 19 90 38 7 36 2 11
Turkey 3 13 1 13 43 42 18 13
Goose 16 90 24 6 65 0 3

Species Near & Middle North America Southwest Pacific World
East
pop. breed pop. breed pop. breed
pop. breed (%) (%)
(%) (%) (%) (%) (million head) number

Buffalo 2 60 0 0 2 174 132
3 3
Cattle 3 48 1 0 3 1 355 990
3 14
Goat 8 6 0 3 0 2 808 559
3 0
Sheep 9 51 4 1 3 1 081 1 129
0 0
Pig 0 0 8 0 0 2 960 566
0 0
Ass 12 11 0 2 41 150
1
Horse 0 2 11 0 4 55 633
1
Bactrian camel & dromedary 38 24 0 0 2 19 97

South American camelids 0 0 0 0 6 13

Rabbit 2 20 0 537 207

Chicken 3 2 13 1 2 16 740 1 132
Duck & Muscovy duck
Turkey 1 2 10 4 1 046 234
Goose
1 4 33 13 2 280 85

3 1 00 1 302 166

33

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

4.2 Local breeds regions that have the highest number of local
breeds. The dromedary, with most breeds located
Tables 9 and 10, respectively, show the number in Africa and the Near and Middle East, is an
of local breeds of mammalian and avian species exception to this pattern.
for each region of the world. For most livestock
species, Europe and the Caucasus or Asia are the

TABLE 9
Mammalian species – number of reported local breeds

Species Africa Asia Europe & the Latin America Near & North Southwest World

Caucasus & the Middle East America Pacific 122
897
Caribbean 27
512
Buffalo 2 88 11 11 8 0 2 995
Cattle 154 239 277 541
Yak 129 43 29 26 140
Goat 0 26 1 570
Sheep 86 182 170 0 0 00 83
Pig 109 265 458 171
Ass 49 229 165 26 34 3 11 4 068
17 39 40
47 50 31 35

67 1 18 12

21 16 43

Horse 36 141 269 65 14 23 22

Dromedary 44 13 1 0 23 02

Rabbit 11 16 125 14 5 0 0
Total 508 1 246 1 519 380 194 108 113

Excludes extinct breeds. Not shown: alpaca, deer, dog, dromedary × Bactrian camel, guanaco, guinea pig, llama, vicuña.

TABLE 10
Avian species – number of reported local breeds

Species Africa Asia Europe & the Latin America Near & North Southwest World

Caucasus & the Middle East America Pacific 1 077
186
Caribbean 78
158
Chicken 89 243 608 84 24 12 17 34
Duck 14 76 62 22 4 17
Turkey 11 11 29 11 3 11 2 13
Goose 10 39 100 52 02 18
Muscovy 7 10 10 31 03 67
duck 13
1 644
Partridge 2 8 3 00 00

Pheasant 0 7 5 60 00

Pigeon 7 12 30 78 12

Ostrich 62 4 00 01
25 34
Total 146 408 851 138 42

Excludes extinct breeds. Not shown: cassowary, duck × Muscovy duck, emu, guinea fowl, ñandu, peacock, quail, swallow.

34

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

4.3 Regional transboundary breeds however, has by far the highest number of regional
transboundary breeds among avian species
For several species, including sheep, horses, pigs, (Table 12). The existence of significant numbers
and all avian species, Europe and the Caucasus, of regional transboundary breeds clearly has
has the highest number of regional transboundary implications for management and conservation of
breeds. However, as Table 11 shows, a relatively AnGR, and highlights the need for cooperation at
large share of such breeds is also found in Africa. regional or subregional levels.
The latter region is dominant in terms of the
numbers of regional transboundary breeds of
cattle, goats and asses. Europe and the Caucasus,

TABLE 11
Mammalian species – number of reported regional transboundary breeds

Species Africa Asia Europe Latin America Near & North Southwest World
Pacific
& the & the Middle America

Caucasus Caribbean East

Buffalo 08 1 1 00 0 10

Cattle 35 19 28 8 03 0 93

Goat 15 11 13 2 05 1 47

Sheep 27 13 79 2 46 3 134

Pig 22 17 3 01 0 25

Ass 43 2 1 00 0 10

Horse 7 10 38 5 03 0 63

Dromedary 2 1 0 0 00 0 3

South 6 6
American
camelids

Deer 1 1 2

Rabbit 30 32 1 00 0 36

Guinea pig 1 1

Total 95 68 211 30 4 18 4 430

Excluding extinct breeds.

35

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

TABLE 12
Avian species – number of reported regional transboundary breeds

Species Africa Asia Europe & the Caucasus Latin America & North America World

the Caribbean 1 55
0 14
Chicken 6 2 45 1 0 7
Duck 0 2 12 0 0 8
Turkey 0 0 7 0 0 1
Goose 0 1 7 0 1 85
Quail 0 1 0 0

Total 6 6 71 1
Excluding extinct breeds.

4.4 International transboundary
breeds

Cattle, sheep, horses and chickens are the species

that have the highest numbers of international

transboundary breeds (Tables 13 and 14).

TABLE 13 TABLE 14
Mammalian species – number of reported Avian species – number of reported international
international transboundary breeds transboundary breeds

Species Number of breeds Species Number of breeds

Buffalo 5 Chicken 101
Cattle 112 Duck 12
Goat 40 Turkey 16
Sheep 100 Goose 15
Pig 33 Muscovy duck 1
Ass Guinea fowl 5
Horse 6 Pigeon 1
Bactrian camel 66 Cassowary 1
Dromedary 2 Emu, Ñandu, Ostrich 5
Deer 2
Rabbit 10 Total 157
23 Excluding extinct breeds.

Total 399
Excluding extinct breeds.

36

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

5 Risk status of animal genetic
resources

A total of 1 491 breeds (or 20 percent) are classified particularly significant in some species – 72 percent
as being “at risk” (Box 6). Figure 11 shows that for rabbit breeds, 66 percent for deer, 59 percent
for mammalian species, the proportion of breeds for asses and 58 percent for dromedaries. This
classified as at risk is lower overall (16 percent) lack of data is a serious constraint to effective
than for avian species (30 percent). However, in prioritization and planning of breed conservation
absolute terms, the number of breeds at risk is measures. Cattle are the species with the highest
higher for mammalian species (881 breeds) than number of breeds (209) reported as extinct. Large
for avian species (610 breeds). numbers of extinct pig, sheep and horse breeds
are also reported. There is, however, clearly a
Figure 12 presents risk status data for possibility that there were breeds that became
mammalian species. It can be seen that cattle are extinct before they were documented, and which
the mammalian species with the highest number are therefore missing from the analysis.
of breeds at risk. Horses (23 percent) followed
by rabbits (20 percent) and pigs (18 percent) Among avian species, chickens have by far
are, however, the species that have the highest the highest number of breeds at risk on a world
proportions of at-risk breeds. Figure 12 also scale (Figure 13). This is partly related to the large
indicates the large number of breeds for which number of chicken breeds in the world, but the
no risk status data are available. The problem is proportion of breeds at risk is also high in chickens

Box 6 than 100 and less than or equal to 1 000 or the total
Glossary: risk status classification number of breeding males is less than or equal to 20
and greater than five; or the overall population size
extinct: a breed is categorized as extinct when is greater than 80 and less than 100 and increasing
there are no breeding males or breeding females and the percentage of females being bred to males
remaining. Nevertheless, genetic material might have of the same breed is above 80 percent; or the overall
been cryoconserved which would allow recreation of population size is greater than 1 000 and less than
the breed. In reality, extinction may be realized well or equal to 1 200 and decreasing and the percentage
before the loss of the last animal or genetic material. of females being bred to males of the same breed
is below 80 percent, and it is not assigned to any of
critical: a breed is categorized as critical if the total above categories.
number of breeding females is less than or equal to
100 or the total number of breeding males is less endangered-maintained: are those endangered
than or equal to five; or the overall population size populations for which active conservation
is less than or equal to 120 and decreasing and programmes are in place or populations are
the percentage of females being bred to males of maintained by commercial companies or research
the same breed is below 80 percent, and it is not institutions.
classified as extinct.
breed at risk: a breed that has been classified as
critical-maintained: are those critical populations either critical, critical-maintained, endangered, or
for which active conservation programmes are in endangered-maintained.
place or populations are maintained by commercial
companies or research institutions.

endangered: a breed is categorized as endangered
if the total number of breeding females is greater

37

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOr FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Part 1

(33 percent). Relatively high proportions and Figure 11
numbers of breeds at risk are also found among Proportion of the world’s breeds by risk status
turkeys and geese. As in the case of mammalian category
species, there are a large number of breeds
for which population figures are unavailable. All species
Extinct breeds have mainly been reported among
chickens. There are also a few cases among ducks, 36% 7% 1%
guinea fowls and turkeys. 9%

Figures 14 and 15 show the distribution of 3%
breeds at risk by region for mammalian and
avian species respectively. The regions with the 9%
highest proportion of their breeds classified as
at risk are Europe and the Caucasus (28 percent 35%
of mammalian breeds and 49 percent of avian
breeds), and North America (20 percent of Mammalian
mammalian breeds and 79 percent of avian
breeds). Europe and the Caucasus, and North 35% 5% 1%
America are the regions that have the most 7%
highly specialized livestock industries, in which 3%
production is dominated by a small number
of breeds. In absolute terms, Europe and the 11%
Caucasus has by far the highest number of at-
risk breeds. Despite the apparent dominance of 38%
these two regions, problems in other regions may
be obscured by the large number of breeds with Avian
unknown risk status. In Latin America and the
Caribbean, for example, 68 percent and 81 percent 12%
of mammalian and avian breeds, respectively, are 2%
classified as being of unknown risk status, while
the figures for Africa are 59 percent for mammals 42% 13%
and 60 percent for birds.
3%
2%

26%

critical
critical-maintained
endangered
endangered-maintained
extinct
not at risk
unknown

38

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

FIGURE 12
Risk status of the world’s mammalian breeds in January 2006: absolute (table) and percentage (chart)
figures by species

Percent
100

80

60

40

20

0
Alpaca Ass Bactrian Buffalo Cattle Deer Dromedary Goat Horse Llama Pig Rabbit Sheep Yak Total

Camel

RISK STATUS

unknown 1 95 3 48 393 18 51 209 272 0 225 166 417 9 1 907
2 3 49 1 2 22 52 0 37 37 40 0 255
critical 0 10 0 0 26 0 0 5 10 0 11 0 5 0 59

critical- 0 2 0 406
maintained 0 160

endangered 0 14 0 5 75 1 2 44 95 0 63 9 98 18 2 129
0 3 60 0 0 13 24 0 22 1 36
endangered- 0 1
maintained

not at risk 5 34 7 78 499 7 33 306 246 5 241 17 633

extinct 0 6 0 0 209 0 0 19 87 0 140 2 180 0 643

Total 6 162 12 137 1 311 27 88 618 786 5 739 232 1 409 27 5 559*

*The total number of breeds is actually higher than the number shown, as Bactrian camel × dromedary crosses, guanacos, vicuñas,
guinea pigs and dogs (of which there are a total of 40 reported breeds) are not included.

39

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

FIGURE 13
Risk status of the world’s avian breeds in January 2006: absolute (table) and percentage (chart)
figures by species

Percent
100

80

60

40

20

0 Goose Guinea Muscovy Ostrich Partridge Pheasant Pigeon Quail Turkey Total
Chicken Duck fowl duck
41 825
RISK STATUS 20 245
1 20
unknown 493 96 65 32 14 8 9 10 32 25 14 287
1 17 1 0 55
critical 156 32 22 0 14 0 00 0 25 521
2 47
critical- 95 40 10 0 4 15 0
maintained 0 10 0

endangered 212 12 20 5 32 3 2 14 9
10 0 00 0 00 0
endangered- 42 2
maintained

not at risk 321 65 60 15 52
02 00
extinct 40 3

Total 1 273 215 181 54 24 16 13 18 68 35 103 2 000*

*The total number of breeds is actually higher than the number shown, as duck × Muscovy duck crossings, cassowaries, emus, ñandus,
peacocks and swallows (of which there are a total of 17 reported breeds) are not included.

40

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

FIGURE 14
Risk status of the world’s mammalian breeds in January 2006: absolute (table) and percentage (chart)
figures by region

Percent
100

80

60

40

20

0 Asia Europe & Latin America & Near & North America Southwest International World
Africa
469 1 940
23 the Caucasus the Caribbean Middle East Pacific transboundary 255
4 59
RISK STATUS breeds
407
unknown 384 459 304 107 79 80 58 160
13 182 9 0 12 9 7
critical 0 51 4 0 00 0 2 135
643
critical-
maintained 5 599

endangered 26 50 249 21 6 22 11 22
4 3 142 9 0 11 0
endangered-
maintained

not at risk 187 776 664 81 85 13 17 312
1*
extinct 35 45 481 21 5 49 6 400

Total 649 1 370 2 228 449 203 176 124

*African Aurochs, which once lived in parts of both the Africa and the Near and Middle East regions.

41

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

FIGURE 15
Risk status of the world’s avian breeds in January 2006: absolute (table) and percentage (chart)
figures by region

Percent
100

80

60

40

20

0 Asia Europe & Latin America & Near & North America Southwest International World
Africa

the Caucasus the Caribbean Middle East Pacific transboundary

RISK STATUS breeds

unknown 113 214 305 120 33 1 23 26 835
critical 7 12 247
critical- 0 8 204 1 0 15 0 19 39

maintained 10 6 12 2 000
0
endangered 23 220 5 0 7 4 0 269
endangered- 56 3 45 7 0 0 0 0 55
2
maintained 188 184 151 13 10 4 7 100 525
010 0 47
not at risk 5 39 0 43 28 34
extinct 157 2 017
Total 443 976 148

42

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

TABLE 15
Number of extinct mammalian breeds

Species Africa Asia Europe & Latin America & Near & North Southwest World
the Caucasus the Caribbean Middle East America Pacific
209
Cattle 23 18 141 19 1 4 2 19
Goat 02 16 0 0 1 0 180
Sheep 5 11 148 0 1 13 2 140
Pig 0 13 101 2 0 23 1 6
Ass 10 4 0 1 0 0 87
Horse 61 71 0 0 8 1 2
Rabbit 00 0 0 2 0 0 643

Total 35 45 481 21 5 49 6

TABLE 16 TABLE 17
Number of extinct avian breeds Years of extinction

Species Africa Asia Europe North World Year Number of %
& the America breeds
Caucasus 40
1 3
Chicken 0 5 34 0 2 Before 1900 15 2
0 2 1900–1999 111 16
Duck 0 0 3 0 After 1999 62 9
47 Unspecified* 502 73
Turkey 0 0 2 1

Guinea 2 0 0
fowl

Total 690 100

Total 2 5 39

*unspecified = no year of extinction indicated.

Tables 15 and 16 present the number of extinct The year of extinction has been reported for only
mammalian and avian breeds by species and 27 percent (188) of extinct breeds. Fifteen breeds
region. Europe and the Caucasus has by far the became extinct before the year 1900, 111 between
largest number of extinct mammalian and avian 1900 and 1999, and within the last six years another
breeds – 16 percent of all reported breeds are 62 breeds became extinct (Table 17).
extinct. However, it is the North America region
that has the highest proportion of extinct breeds
(25 percent) among its recorded breeds. The
dominance of North America, and Europe and the
Caucasus in terms of the numbers of extinct breeds,
may relate to the greater levels of breed recording
that have taken place in these two regions.

43

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

6 Trends in breed status

6.1 Changes in the number of breeds to 529 breeds) and local breeds (absolute figures
in the different breed groups grew from 4 013 to 6 536 breeds) (Figure 16).

This subchapter describes the changes in the Had the classification existed in 1999, there
numbers of breeds classified as falling within would have been 369 regional transboundary
each of the breed categories (local, regional breeds and 197 international transboundary
transboundary and international transboundary) breeds at this time. The higher proportion of
over the six years between December 1999 international transboundary breeds in 2006 results
and January 20063. The share of international partly from the fact that 86 breeds that would
transboundary breeds increased from 4 to have been classified as regional transboundary
7 percent of the total during this period (from breeds in 1999 were classified as international
197 to 557 breeds). This was accompanied by a transboundary breeds in 2006 (283 remained
slight decrease in the proportions of regional as regional transboundary breeds) (Table 18).
transboundary (absolute figures grew from 369 The other factor contributing to the increased
proportion of international transboundary breeds
3 Note that in 1999 the breed classification system (transboundary is that among newly reported breeds there
vs. local) had not been developed, and therefore the analysis were more international transboundary breeds
presented here was carried out by applying the new procedure to (274) than regional transboundary breeds (240)
the data from 1999 to allow comparison. (Table 18). The changes can largely be accounted
for by improved reporting, but also may also reflect
the ongoing spread of breeds into new regions.

FIGURE 16
Local, regional and international breeds in 1999 and 2006

Number of breeds
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000

0

1999 regional 2006

local international

44

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

TABLE 18 are presented for breeds that would have been
Reclassification of regional and international classified as local in 1999 and were still classified
transboundary breeds from 1999 to 2006 as local in 2006.

Year Category 2006 Transboundary breeds
Comparison of the data in 1999 and 2006 shows
Regional International a slight reduction in the proportion of breeds
assigned to the unknown risk category. This
1999 Regional 283 86 indicates some improvement in data quality
International 0 197 – about 20 percent of the 68 breeds previously
classified as being of unknown risk status were
Newly reported breeds 240 274 reclassified in 2006 (Figure 17; Table 19). Table 19
also shows that more breeds moved from the at
6.2 Trends in genetic erosion risk category into the not at risk category (25 out
of 80, or 31 percent) than moved in the opposite
Because of the introduction of the new direction (10 out of 411, or 3 percent). This can
transboundary breed categories in 2006, a largely be explained by the fact that over the
straightforward comparison of the total number six years, further countries have reported the
of breeds in each risk status category is not presence of some of the transboundary breeds,
possible. Thus, the comparison is presented in which has resulted in the breeds being promoted
three parts. Trends among transboundary breeds into the not at risk category. The number of new
are shown first, followed by trends among breeds transboundary breeds reported and their risk
that would have been classified as local in 1999 status categories are shown in Table 20.
and (because of new reports) were classified as
transboundary breeds in 2006. Finally, figures

FIGURE 17
Changes in risk status of transboundary breeds from 1999 to 2006

Number of breeds
1200
1000

800
600
400
200

0

1999 not at risk extinct 2006

at risk unknown

45

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

TABLE 19
Changes in risk status of transboundary breeds from 1999 to 2006

Risk status in 1999 Number of breeds Risk status in 2006
in 1999
at risk not at risk extinct unknown

at risk 80 68% 31% 0% 1%
not at risk 0%
extinct 411 3% 97% 0% 0%
unknown 79%
7 0% 0% 100%

68 6% 15% 0%

TABLE 20
Risk status of transboundary breeds reported after 1999

Risk status in 2006 Total number
514
at risk not at risk extinct unknown
126
Number of breeds 112 274 2

Local breeds (1999) reclassified as in 1999 were assigned to a known risk status
transboundary breeds (2006) category by 2006.
Had the classification system existed in 1999, 276
breeds classified as local 1999 would have been Local breeds
reclassified as transboundary breeds by 2006. Of Over the 1999 to 2006 period, 20 percent of the
the 87 such breeds that were classified as at risk breeds previously classified as being of unknown
in 1999, 39 (or 45 percent) were by 2006 classified status were assigned to known risk status
as belonging to not at risk transboundary breeds categories (Table 22, Figure 18) – an indication of
(Table 21). This can largely be accounted for by improved reporting. Table 22 also shows that a
the reporting of the breeds in question from slightly larger proportion of breeds moved from
additional countries. Table 21 also shows that the at risk category into the not at risk category
there has been an improvement in data quality (7.4 percent) than vice versa (4.6 percent). The
among this group of breeds – 61 percent (34 out absolute figures are 60 breeds and 59 breeds
of 56) of breeds with an unknown risk status respectively. Of the local breeds at risk in 1999, 1.6
percent had become extinct by 2006, and among

TABLE 21
Changes in risk status of local breeds (1999) reclassified as transboundary breeds (2006)

Risk status in 1999 Number of breeds Risk status in 2006
in 1999
at risk not at risk extinct unknown

at risk 87 51% 45% 0% 5%
not at risk 0%
extinct 124 3% 97% 0% 22%
unknown 39%
9 44% 11% 22%

56 21% 39% 0%

46

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

FIGURE 18
Changes in risk status of local breeds from 1999 to 2006

Number of breeds
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000

0

1999 2006

at risk not at risk extinct unknown

TABLE 22
Changes in risk status of local breeds from 1999 to 2006

Risk status in 1999 Number of breeds Risk status in 2006
in 1999
at risk not at risk extinct unknown

at risk 815 91% 7% 2% 0%
not at risk 1 295 5% 93% 0.2% 2%
extinct 2% 97% 0%
unknown 623 8% 0% 81%
999 10% 1%

among the local breeds not at risk in 1999, TABLE 23
0.2 percent had become extinct. Risk status of local breeds reported after 1999

The number of new local breeds reported, Risk status in 2006 Total
and their risk status categories are presented in
Table 23. The relatively large number of breeds number
classified as being of unknown risk status is a at not extinct unknown
result of the inclusion of breeds mentioned in the
Country Reports, most of which did not include risk at
population data.
risk

Number 414 575 54 1 758 2 801
of
breeds

47

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

7 Conclusions

In the period from 1999 to 2006 the coverage international distribution and exchange pattern
of breed diversity in the Global Databank was are not under threat in terms of population size.
further improved. However, breed-related However, in the case of breeds such as the Holstein-
information remains far from complete. For more Friesian, a decline in the within-breed diversity
than one-third of all reported breeds, risk status that underlies efficient selection programmes may
is not known because of missing population data. becomeaproblem.Thoughregionaltransboundary
In Africa and the Southwest Pacific, for example, breeds are found in several countries, some may
population size has not been reported for over be kept by marginalized ethnic groups and, thus,
two-thirds of breed populations. may become threatened along with the livelihood
strategies of their keepers.
The creation of the new transboundary breeds
category (linking of national breed populations Measuring diversity on the basis of the number
with a common gene pool) has eliminated the of breeds tends to overestimate genetic diversity
unrealistic risk status estimations for these breeds in Europe and the Caucasus, where a long
that occurred because calculations were based tradition of breeders’ associations has led to the
on population data at the level of the individual distinction of breeds that in some cases are very
country. The linking of breeds was based on closely related. The contribution of some breeds
expert knowledge; more objective criteria for to genetic diversity may, therefore, be quite
judging what constitutes a common gene pool small. It should, however, be noted that most
need to be developed and applied in the future. studies of fancy breeds in developed countries
The differentiation of transboundary breeds reveal that these breeds add to overall diversity
as regional or international was carried out in and may have a high conservation potential. The
a formalized way, according to whether the picture of diversity is further confounded by the
respective breed is present in one or more than advanced state of reporting in some regions, such
one SoW-AnGR region. Nonetheless, some breeds as Europe and the Caucasus, and North America,
classified as international (e.g. those present on where an almost complete coverage of existing
both sides of the border between the Africa and breeds has been achieved.
the Near and Middle East regions) have quite a
limited distribution and would be better treated For the identification of trends in erosion,
as regional transboundary breeds. Furthermore, local breeds give a clearer indication than do
in this first attempt to classify breeds according transboundary breeds (for which movement
to their distribution, the population size of between categories and the higher number of
transboundary breeds in the respective countries national breed populations reported in 2006
was not considered, meaning that in some countries confound the picture). The changes in risk
the report of a breed’s presence may represent status category among the local breeds already
a small population that will only be temporarily reported in 1999 were rather small, and do not
present. A more differentiated distinction needs indicate an improvement in the situation. The
to be developed, as this classification has proved reasons for the movements between risk status
very useful for identifying patterns of AnGR categories are largely unknown. The question
exchange. It will also be useful for identifying of whether conservation programmes have
cases in which regional collaboration in breed contributed to an increase in population size
management is needed. can only be answered on a case-by-case basis,
as information as to which threatened breeds
The two transboundary breed groups (regional are covered by conservation programmes is
and international) need to be distinguished with incomplete. It is alarming that 45 percent of
respect to their risk status. Breeds with a truly the newly reported local breeds for which

48

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

population data are available are either at risk
or already extinct.

Besides missing population data, a big
weakness of the current monitoring of breed
erosion is that it does not capture genetic dilution
of local breeds by uncontrolled cross-breeding – a
problem which is considered by many experts to
be a major threat to AnGR diversity. Population
size and structure as sole indicators of risk status
may, therefore, be misleading. To arrive at a
more comprehensive picture, more details of
the geographical location of local breeds would
be required, along with information on the
distribution of imported live animals and genetic
material in the country in question.

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THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Section C

Flows of animal genetic
resources

1 Introduction

“Gene flow” (movements and exchange of can be given for livestock breeds due to
animal breeds and germplasm) in livestock the high levels of within-breed genetic
species has been taking place since prehistoric variation.
times, and has been driven by a range of factors. These limitations mean that it is not possible
On a global scale, the most significant gene flows to provide a comprehensive quantitative analysis
have involved the “big five” livestock species: of global exchanges between the North and the
cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens. Focusing South. Despite these limitations, the data do allow
mainly on these five species, this section draws the assessment of trends in, and the approximate
information from FAO’s DAD-IS Global Databank magnitude of, movements and exchange of live
and selected literature to provide a description animals, semen and embryos.
of the provenance and distribution the world’s
major breeds. 2 Driving forces and historical
phases in gene flows
The terms “North” and “South” are used here
to refer to developed countries and developing Gene flows have been determined and
countries respectively. The information available influenced by a wide range of factors – cultural,
is often sketchy and incomplete. Statistics rarely military, organizational, institutional, political,
specify both the source and the destination market, technological, research, disease and
countries of breeding animals, and often regulatory. The relative importance of these
differentiate data by species rather than breed. factors has changed during the course of history.
Other limitations include: Broadly speaking, three distinct periods can be
distinguished in the pattern of global gene flow.
• there are no systematic records of breed Prehistory to the eighteenth century. This phase
population sizes – a breed’s presence in spanned about 10 000 years, from the early days
many countries does not necessarily mean it of domestication to the late eighteenth century.
has a large global population; During this time, genes spread as a result of the
dispersal of domestic animals by means of gradual
• breeds from temperate zones are often diffusion, migration, warfare, exploration,
better defined and documented than colonization and trade.
breeds from tropical regions and marginal Nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries. During
areas; the period from the beginning of the nineteenth
century until about the middle of the twentieth
• gene flows within large countries do not century, breeding organizations were established
show up in the international statistics, in the North. These organizations formalized
unlike flows between small countries – a the existence of numerous breeds, recorded
breed’s presence in many small countries
may exaggerate its actual worldwide
importance; and

• in contrast to plant genetic resources, no
quantitative share of gene introgression

51

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

their pedigrees and performance, and facilitated goats, cattle and pigs – were first domesticated
rapid improvements in output. The flow of in this region. Other centres of domestication
genes was mainly among countries in the North were Southeast Asia (pigs, swamp buffaloes and
(North–North flows), and from North to South. possibly chickens), the Indus Valley (chickens
The driving forces behind this movement were and riverine buffaloes), North Africa (cattle and
technological developments, the demand for donkeys), and the Andes of South America (llamas,
higher-producing animals, and the beginning of alpacas and guinea pigs). From these centres,
the commercialization of animal breeding in the domesticated animals spread gradually from
North. neighbour to neighbour, and also as their keepers
Mid-twentieth century to the present. During this migrated to new areas. Livestock husbandry
phase, gene flows have been propelled by the spread fairly rapidly throughout the Old World,
existence of commercial breeding companies in with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa, where
the North, production differentials between North movement was much slower, probably because of
and South, and rapid globalization. Technological endemic diseases (Clutton-Brock, 1999).
advances have made it possible to ship semen and
embryos instead of live animals. More recently, it Domestication and dispersal contributed to
has become possible to transfer entire production increased variability within each species. As animals
systems – to create controlled environments adapted to new environments and were subjected
in other parts of the world. Furthermore, it is to different selection pressures, populations with
becoming feasible to identify and isolate genes. new characteristics developed. Even in early
Focus is shifting to individual genes, rather than historic times, selection was not only natural, but
traits or entire genotypes. There are emerging also influenced by cultural preferences. These
international legal frameworks which regulate processes led to the development of many local
exchange mechanisms for genetic material, and breeds (Valle Zárate et al., 2006). Warfare and
intellectual property rights (IPRs) are beginning trade were important motors for the spread of
to be exerted. animals such as horses and camels that are used
for transport and riding. A supply of good horses
These trends are ongoing, and have affected was a vital element of military power, and this
different parts of the world to different degrees. species dominated trade in genetic resources for
For example, in much of the world, breeding centuries.
stock is still traded without any involvement of
breeding organizations, much less of specialized Colonization of new areas was another
breeding companies. Nevertheless, modern important vehicle for gene flow. The Romans
breeding approaches are increasingly being used invested in livestock breeding, and there is
in the South, and are promoting the spread of archaeological evidence that their improved,
specialized breeds and production systems. larger-sized breeds were disseminated to the
countries that they occupied. However, with the
2.1 Phase 1: prehistory to decline of the Roman Empire, these improved
the eighteenth century animals faded away. Colonization also played an
important role in later times: when Europeans
In the early phases of stock breeding, domesticated colonized new continents they always brought
animals were dispersed by gradual diffusion from their livestock with them (Box 7). It has been
their centres of domestication (see Section A). observed that Europeans managed to establish
One major centre of domestication was in western a permanent hold and cultural dominance only
Asia and the eastern Mediterranean. During what in temperate climates where European livestock
is now known as the “Neolithic revolution”, the also thrived (North America, southern South
four major mammalian livestock species – sheep, America, Australia, New Zealand and South

52

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Africa). These regions now dominate the export From the 1850s onwards, gene flow in the form
of livestock and animal products, although most of registered pedigree animals became more
had no cattle, sheep, pigs or goats 500 years ago commercial (Valle Zárate et al., 2006). Breed
(Crosby, 1986). societies initially focused on setting standards
for external characteristics; performance testing
Box 7 began only in the early twentieth century.
Gene flows resulting from colonization
Important prerequisites for selection for
The main domesticated species reached the New high performance were the intensification of
World and Australia only with the arrival of European agriculture and the improvement of feeds. The
explorers and colonizers. Columbus brought eight pigs exchange of genetic resources was facilitated by
from the Canary Islands to the West Indies in 1493, the invention of steamships. By the end of the
where they multiplied rapidly. Pigs then followed in nineteenth century, European countries had also
the footsteps of Pizarro to the Inca Empire. Explorers developed specialized legislation to support and
and others released pigs on remote islands to ensure regulate animal breeding. Much of the gene
a food supply for the next generation of transient flow was between European countries and their
Europeans. Populations had often become established respective colonies, but there was also exchange
before the islands were named and documented. within Europe, and from South to South. Because
European cattle breeds did not do well in the
Columbus also carried cattle, whose descendants humid tropics, Indian Ongole and Gir cattle were
were living as breeding herds in the West Indies brought to Brazil, and Sahiwal cattle from India
(1512), Mexico (1520s), Incan region (1530s) and and Pakistan were introduced to Kenya.
Florida (1565). In humid areas they took many
generations to adapt, but in more favourable 2.3 Phase 3: mid-twentieth century
environments they doubled their populations every 15 to the present
years or so. The majority of cattle in the Americas were
probably feral from the sixteenth to the nineteenth Since about the middle of the twentieth
centuries. The cattle of Iberian descent had long horns century, a series of technological advances have
and were more agile than the British and French facilitated gene flow. Commercial use of semen
breeds later introduced to North America. started in the 1960s, of embryos in the 1980s,
and of sexed embryos in the mid-1990s (Valle
Source: Crosby (1986). Zárate et al., 2006). Lack of artificial insemination
(AI) coverage has meant slower gene flow in
2.2 Phase 2: nineteenth to developing countries and in remote areas.
mid-twentieth centuries
Towards the end of the twentieth century,
Until the end of the eighteenth century, gene flows to the South began to be fuelled by
European farmers did not generally put much a growing number of consumers with a taste for,
emphasis on stock breeding. The introduction of and who could afford, meat, milk, cheese and
the Arab horse into Britain stimulated livestock eggs – even in countries with no tradition of milk
breeders to copy the Arab breeding practices consumption. The resulting expansion of intensive
of careful selection and maintaining pure lines. livestock production systems in developing
After the pioneering work of Robert Bakewell countries has been termed the “livestock
(1725–1795), British breeders began to apply the revolution”. Monogastric animals (pigs and
same principles to their cattle and sheep, leading poultry) are increasing in numerical importance
to the establishment of breeding societies and because they efficiently convert feed into meat
herd books in the early nineteenth century. or eggs. Small ruminants, especially sheep, are
losing ground as grazing resources decline and
the demand for wool decreases (FAO, 1999).

53

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

Various factors now shape the flow of livestock demand for naturally grown beef has led to the
genes across national borders. These include the importation of British and French beef breeds
following: to Germany. There are predictions that pressure
Demand for optimal performance. Gene flows from the animal welfare lobby will promote the
are driven by the desire of producers and keeping of pigs in more extensive conditions,
breeders to obtain genotypes that perform including in outdoor systems. This would require
optimally in a given production environment the development of new strains that are able
(Peters and Meyn, 2005). Both push and pull to thrive under these conditions (Willis, 1998).
factors are involved. Exports generate profits, Slackening demand for wool is promoting the
which help pay for breeding activities and can spread of hair sheep.
be reinvested in breeding programmes. At the Animal health and hygiene standards. High
receiving end, motives for importing genetics standards of hygiene and disease-free status
can vary. Countries such as China and Brazil are enable a country to participate more easily
in the process of building up their own intensive in the market for genetic material. Australia,
production systems and breeding programmes. for example, is considered disease-free and
Eastern European countries need to raise faces no restrictions on exporting its genetic
the performance of their dairy sectors, while material. At the same time, it imposes strict
Mediterranean, Near and Middle Eastern, and quarantine standards to maintain this status
African countries traditionally import because of and accepts semen and embryo transfers rather
the high costs associated with developing their than live animals. Developing countries are at a
own breeding programmes. disadvantage because they often cannot fulfil
Organization of breeding. The market for livestock required standards. For instance, the Philippines
genetics is highly competitive. Demand is based on imports milk buffalo germplasm from Bulgaria
proven performance – a supplier can sell a bull’s rather than from India – a closer and cheaper
semen only if the bull has been shown to have source – because the latter can not meet
sired superior calves. This means that efficient international sanitary standards.
organization of breeding enterprises is decisive. Government policies. Governments often subsidize
It takes a long time to develop high-performing exports of their national genetics to assist their
strains or hybrids, so a small number of companies farmers, or they support the import of exotic
and countries have established a lead and other genetics to build up national production systems.
actors find it difficult to catch up. Breeding and The latter has often been financed by bilateral
global gene flow in poultry and pigs has become and international aid. Alternatively, governments
dominated by a few large companies that have sometimes restrict export of their genetics in an
been in business since the 1960s. Concentration attempt to monopolize them; examples include
is also increasing in the cattle breeding sector. South American countries that have banned the
In sheep, multi-tiered hybrid production is less export of camelids. History, however, shows that
common at present. An example is Australia’s attempts to limit the spread of genetic resources
Awassi Joint Venture, established to supply live are difficult to maintain. Merino sheep spread
sheep to the Middle East for slaughter (Mathias throughout the world after the fall of the Spanish
and Mundy 2005). In many parts of the South, monopoly, Turkey was unable to prevent the
this pattern of large-scale structured commercial global distribution of its Angora goat, and South
breeding has not yet taken hold. Africa could not prevent the transfer of its ostrich
Changes in consumer preferences. Changing genetic resources to other countries. History is
consumer preferences and newly emerging now repeating itself in the commercial sector, as
market demands influence gene flow. For instance, firms find it impossible to avoid the “leakage”

54

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

of genes from primary customers to the whole that they occur in more than one country (DAD-
industry, despite contractual arrangements IS, 2006). Some 70 percent of these belong to five
prohibiting pure-breeding with the outsourced species – 205 breeds of cattle, 234 of sheep, 87 of
animals (Schäfer and Valle Zárate, 2006; Alandia goats, 59 of pigs, and 156 of chickens. Exchanges
Robles et al., 2006; Musavaya et al., 2006). of these five species are discussed in detail below.
Ecological services. Use of livestock in landscape A description of their current global distribution
protection and biodiversity conservation – notably can be found in Section B.
in Europe – has led to new demands for climate-
tolerant, low-input breeds that can be kept Other livestock species (water buffalo, yak,
outside even in harsh winters. horses, asses, camels, llamas, alpacas, reindeers,
Search for specific characteristics. Scientific ducks, geese and turkeys) do not have such large
interest in specific genetic traits related to populations, but are nevertheless important as
disease resistance, fertility and product quality, they are crucial to the survival of millions of poor
also contributes to gene flow, though on a livestock keepers in developing countries and for
relatively small scale. Fayoumi chickens from the utilization of marginal areas.
Egypt, for example, were brought to the United
States of America during the 1940s because of Figure 19 shows the number of countries in
their resistance to viral diseases, and in 1996 which individual livestock breeds of the five major
the University of Göttingen imported frozen species are found. Note that the figure shows the
embryos of Dorper sheep to study their suitability numbers of countries where a breed is found,
for meat production in Germany (Mathias and and not the size of the population. It is likely
Mundy, 2005). Similarly, Boer goats were brought that in some countries an international breed
to Gissen University (also in Germany). is documented but has a small population. The
graph shows all breeds reported from five or more
3 The big five countries. Each point in the graph corresponds to
a single breed; the top few breeds of each species
During the past two centuries, global livestock are named. For example, the most widespread
numbers and the exchange of breeds and animal dairy cattle breed, the Holstein-Friesian, is found
genetic material have greatly increased. North– in 128 countries worldwide.
North exchanges have prevailed. North–South
and South–South exchanges have been more
limited, and South–North flows have been the
least frequent. Movements and exchanges have
been particularly intensive in the dairy cattle, pig
and chicken sectors (Mathias and Mundy, 2005;
Valle Zárate et al., 2006).

Very often, breeds have been developed or
further improved outside their areas of origin,
and then exported to third countries. Examples
are the familiar Holstein-Friesian black and
white dairy cow, the American Brahman and the
Brazilian Nelore.

Nowadays, about 1 080 livestock breeds of all
species are recorded as “transboundary” – meaning

55

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

FIGURE 19 s Cattle
Distribution of transboundary breeds | Sheep
v Goat
Number of countries z Pig
b Chicken
140
Breeds Other Commercial
Holstein-Friesian with Southern breeds breeds
120 ancestry, or (ancestry
bred in South not divulged)
Large White

100 Duroc
Landrace
Jersey

80
Saanen

60
Rhode Island Red
Leghorn

40
Suffolk

20

0 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81
1 Rank order of breeds

3.1 Cattle and Switzerland, with small numbers coming
from Canada and elsewhere. Imports from the
Cattle genetics are exchanged in the form of live United States of America were restricted because
breeding animals (heifers, pregnant cows and of disease considerations (Mergenthaler et al.,
bulls), semen and embryos. Large numbers of live 2006).
animals are traded each year, but the majority
are intended for fattening and slaughter rather The trade in semen is much larger than the
than for breeding. The high cost of transport trade in live animals – semen is easier to transport
means that three zonal markets exist for live and is not subject to such stringent health and
breeding animals: Europe, North America and quarantine restrictions. According to Thibier
the Southwest Pacific. From 1993 to 2003, the and Wagner (2002), close to 20 million doses of
15 countries that were then members of the semen were traded internationally in 1998. That
European Union (EU-15) exported more than was about 8 percent of the total number of deep-
150 000 breeding heifers a year. Roughly half frozen doses produced worldwide. North America
of these stayed within the EU-15; almost all and Europe were the major exporters, and South
the rest went to North Africa, West Asia and America was the major importer. North America
Eastern Europe. At the same time, the EU-15 produced 70 percent of global semen exports, and
imported about 15 000 breeding heifers a year the EU another 26 percent; the remainder came
from outside, almost all from Eastern Europe

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THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

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In 1991, three-quarters of global semen exports Several important breeds were developed
were of one breed – Holstein-Friesian. Other dairy on small islands (Jersey, Guernsey) or in remote
breeds accounted for another 13 percent, beef mountainous areas (Simmental, Brown Swiss,
breeds for about 10 percent, and tropical breeds, Aberdeen Angus, Piedmont, Galloway, Highland)
mainly Brahman, Red Sindhi and Sahiwal, for – locations which offered both isolation from
about 2 percent (Chupin and Thibier, 1995 cited other breeds and (in the case of mountains) the
in Mergenthaler et al., 2006). environmental stress needed to select for the
hardiness prized in these breeds.
Trade in embryos has not reached the
magnitude of trade in semen. Nevertheless, small The spread accelerated in the 1800s. By 1950,
numbers of embryos have sometimes sufficed most European breeds had been exported to other
to build up a large population. Examples are countries in the North. Exchange has continued
France’s upgrading of its black and white cattle right up to the present time: for example, the
to Holstein-Friesian, which was achieved mainly French Maine-Anjou breed was first imported
through the import of fewer than 1 000 embryos into North America in 1969; Blonde d’Aquitaine,
from the United States of America (Meyn 2005 Salers and Tarentaise arrived in 1972. A breeders’
– personal communication cited in Mergenthaler association in the United States of America for
et al., 2006). the Parthenais breed was formed only in 1995.

Breeds with European ancestry Particularly in the United States of America
Breeds of European descent account for eight of and Australia, European breeds have been
the top ten breeds, and 49 of the top 82 breeds further developed, and production of meat and
(those distributed to five or more countries – see milk often outstrips that achieved in their home
Figure 19). By far the most widespread breed is areas. They have also been used as the basis of
the Holstein-Friesian, which is reported in at least new breeds suited to temperate areas. Examples
128 countries, and in all regions (Figure 20). Next include Polled Hereford, Red Angus and Milking
come Jersey (also a dairy breed, 82 countries), Devon in the United States of America. Indeed,
Simmental (dual-purpose, 70 countries), Brown North America has become an important source
Swiss (dual-purpose, 68 countries), and Charolais of genetic material for European livestock
(beef, 64 countries – see Figure 21). producers.

Almost all the most successful European European breeds have also been successful in
cattle breeds stem from northwestern Europe: temperate areas of South America and in South
principally the United Kingdom (11 breeds in Africa, as well as in the dry tropics. Numerous
the top 47), France (six breeds), Switzerland and attempts have been made to introduce them
the Netherlands. Relatively few come from the into the humid tropics, but they have mostly
southern and eastern parts of the continent. Many failed (except in some highland and peri-urban
of the successful breeds are based on traditional areas) because the breeds are poorly adapted
breeds that emerged in the Middle Ages or to the heat and low-quality forage, and often
earlier, often under the sponsorship of individual suffer from parasites and diseases. Nevertheless,
noblemen, wealthy individuals or monasteries. the top five European breeds (Holstein-Friesian,
They were formalized in the nineteenth century Jersey, Simmental, Brown Swiss and Charolais)
with the formation of herd books and breeding are reported in 11 or more countries in Africa,
societies. This occurred first in the United 16 or more in Latin America and the Caribbean,
Kingdom, and then on the European continent, and five or more in Asia. In Latin America and
in the Americas, and in the rest of the English the Caribbean, European cattle introduced by
speaking world (Valle Zárate et al., 2006). colonists developed into various breeds, the
most prominent of which is the Creole. European

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THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

breeds have been crossed with various tropical Southern dairy breed, originates from Pakistan
breeds to create new composite breeds that are and India. It has been introduced to 12 African
more suited to the tropics (see under South Asian countries. Several South Asian breeds have been
and African breeds below). more successful abroad than at home (Box 8;
Figure 22) – presumably because abroad they are
Breeds with South Asian ancestry prized for their meat (unlike in many areas of
The second most successful group of breeds (in India, where cattle are mainly used for milk and
terms of their worldwide distribution) have South draught, and for cultural reasons often cannot be
Asian ancestry. They include the Brahman (ranked sold for slaughter).
ninth overall and found in 45 countries), Sahiwal
(29 countries), Gir, Red Sindhi, Indo-Brazilian, Pure South Asian breeds have had little influence
Guzerat and Nelore. These breeds are all of in most developed countries. However, breeds
the humped Bos indicus type, rather than the based on South Asian stock have had a major
humpless Bos taurus (Figure 22). impact in the warmer parts of the United States
of America and in northern Australia, where they
Outside their home area, South Asian breeds have been bred primarily for beef production. From
have been most successful in tropical Latin there, they have been exported to many tropical
America and Africa. The Sahiwal, the best countries. The Brahman, for example (developed
in the United States of America based on stock
Box 8 originally from India), is found in 18 countries in
Nelore cattle Latin America and 15 in Africa – figures similar to
those for the Simmental, the most widely spread
The Nelore originates from Indian Zebu-type Ongole European dual purpose breed in these regions.
cattle which Brazil started to buy from India in the
early 1900s. In Brazil the breed came to be known South Asian animals have also made a major
as Nelore, after the district of Nellore in present-day contribution to composite breeds used elsewhere
Andhra Pradesh, India. The breed thrived in South in the tropics. These include the Santa Gertrudis
America, and in the 1950s Argentina started its own (descended from Shorthorn × Brahman crosses,
breeding programme for the “Nelore Argentino”. and found in 34 countries around the world),
The Nelore was later exported to the United States Brangus (Angus × Brahman, 16 countries),
of America and there became one of the progenitors Beefmaster (Shorthorn and Hereford × Brahman),
of the Brahman. In 1995, the breed made up more Simbrah (Simmental × Brahman), Braford
than 60 percent of Brazil’s 160 million cattle, and in (Brahman × Hereford), Droughtmaster (Shorthorn
2005 some 85 percent of Brazil’s 190 million cattle, × Brahman), Charbray (Charolais × Brahman) and
had Nelore blood. Australian Friesian Sahiwal (Holstein-Friesian ×
Sahiwal). Virtually all this breeding work has been
Ironically, while the Ongole has been successfully done in the southern United States of America and
established in a number of countries in North and in Australia, beginning in the twentieth century.
South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Many of these breeds have been re-exported to
Australia, its population has greatly declined in its other countries, especially in the tropics, where
original range in coastal Andhra Pradesh, and it is they generally perform better than the European
qualitatively inferior to the population in Brazil. pure-breeds.

Source: Mathias and Mundy (2005). Other South Asian cattle breeds have not broken
out of their home region. They include the Hariana,
Siri, Bengali, Bhagnari, Kangayam and Khillari
breeds – which are found in two or more countries
in South Asia – along with numerous local breeds.

60

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Breeds with African ancestry sheep than in cattle. It requires capital-intensive
African breeds account for relatively few of the production systems, and is important only where
breeds that have spread outside their home the use of fresh semen is practical, such as breeding
ranges. The N’dama, a trypanotolerant beef programmes for dairy sheep in France, Italy and
breed thought to have been developed in the Spain (Schäfer and Valle Zárate, 2006). Some 59
Fouta-Djallon highlands of Guinea, is reported breeds of sheep are reported from five or more
in 20 countries, all of them in West and Central countries. The most widely distributed breeds are
Africa (Figure 22). It ranks only equal 20th among the Suffolk, Merino and Texel, followed by the
breeds in terms of the number of countries where Corriedale and Barbados Black Belly.
it is reported. The Boran, a breed developed by
Borana pastoralists in Ethiopia and improved Breeds with European ancestry
by ranchers in Kenya (Homann et al., 2006), is European sheep breeds are the most widespread
reported from 11 countries (nine in East, Central in the world, but are not as dominant as European
and Southern Africa, plus Australia and Mexico). cattle breeds. They account for five of the top
The Africander is South Africa’s most popular ten breeds worldwide, and 35 of the 59 breeds
native breed; it is reported from eight other reported from ten or more countries (Figure 19).
countries in Africa, as well as from Australia. The The top three breeds are all European in origin:
Tuli from Zimbabwe is found in eight countries Suffolk (a meat/wool breed from eastern England,
(four in Southern Africa, plus Argentina, Mexico, found in 40 countries in all regions), Texel (a meat
Australia and the United States of America). breed from the Netherlands, 29 countries) and
Merino (a wool breed from Spain) (Figure 23).
African breeds have been crossed with The Merino would probably rank first if all its
European breeds to produce breeds such as the many derivative breeds were counted – it has
Bonsmara (the result of Africander × Hereford been widely cross-bred and selected to produce a
and Shorthorn crosses in South Africa – see multitude of new breeds.
Figure 22), Senepol (an N’dama × Red Poll cross,
bred in the US Virgin Islands and then imported
into the United States of America) and Belmont
Red (Africander × Hereford and Shorthorn
crosses, bred in Australia). As the examples show,
this cross-breeding has been carried out both in
Africa (mainly South Africa) and elsewhere.

Breeds from other regions
Very few breeds from other parts of the world
have spread far beyond their original ranges.
Cattle from Central, East and Southeast Asia have
had little impact on the world’s herds.

3.2 Sheep

Sheep are among the most widely distributed
domestic species. They are multifunctional,
adaptable, and there are no religious restrictions
on their use for meat (at least among the
dominant faiths). Breeding sheep are mainly
exchanged as live animals. AI is less successful in

61



THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Eight of the top European-origin breeds developed during the past three to four centuries
hail from southern and eastern England; three throughout the world (Shrestha, 2005, cited in
originated in France, while others came from Schäfer and Valle Zárate, 2006). Very widespread
Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Russian breeds with mixed European–non-European
Federation and Spain. As with cattle, many of ancestry include the Barbados Black Belly and the
these breeds are traditional landraces that were Dorper.
formalized into breeds in the nineteenth century.
European sheep breeds have spread to many African breeds
other countries. They have been most successful African sheep have been relatively successful. They
in the temperate areas of North America and the (or their descendents) account for at least 11 of
Southwest Pacific. Transfers began with the first the 29 breeds found in ten or more countries. The
European settlement of these areas, and have West African Dwarf is found in 24 countries: 17 in
continued up to the present. Canada is a frequent Africa, three in Europe and four in the Caribbean
staging-post for European breeds before they (Figure 23). The Black Headed Persian, which
are imported into the United States of America, comes from Somalia, has spread to 18 countries,
presumably because of the latter country’s including 13 in Africa. From South Africa it was
regulations to prevent the spread of disease. exported to the Caribbean.

The EU-15 countries are net exporters of African breeds have also contributed to new
pure-bred sheep, with Spain playing a dominant breeds developed elsewhere in the world. The
role. Portugal, France and Germany also export most successful is the Barbados Black Belly, a hair
small numbers of breeding sheep (Schäfer and breed that emerged on the Caribbean island of
Valle Zárate, 2006). Exchange takes place mainly Barbados in the mid-1600s and which has now
among the EU-15 countries, with Eastern Europe found its way to 26 countries in the Caribbean
as an important additional destination. and tropical America, and has also been exported
to Europe, Malaysia and the Philippines. The
North America, Australia and New Zealand South African Dorper breed is the second most
have active sheep breeding programmes. Three common breed in South Africa, and has spread to
breeds developed in these areas have spread 25 countries, mainly in Africa and Latin America.
widely: the Corriedale, which is the fourth most Its history illustrates the complex nature of gene
widespread breed; the Katahdin (based on a flows (Box 9). The Katahdin was bred in the
cross between African and European breeds), and United States of America from crosses between
the Poll Dorset. All are based at least in part on West African Hair sheep and the Wiltshire Horn,
European progenitors. and has been widely exported to Latin America.
The St Croix is descended from West African Hair
European breeds have been exported to only a sheep (or possibly a Wiltshire Horn × Criollo cross).
few countries in the South, primarily the Merino It was bred in the US Virgin Islands before being
(pure-breeds in 11 countries in Africa, six in Asia, exported to other countries in the Americas and
and five in Latin America and the Caribbean), elsewhere.
and the Suffolk (five African countries, four in
Asia and 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean).
Latin America and the Caribbean has been the
destination of more European breeds than have
other parts of the developing world. The Criollo,
descended from early European imports, is
present in nearly every country in Latin America
and the Caribbean (Figure 23).

European breeds have contributed to many of
the 440-plus composite breeds that have been

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THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

Box 9
Continuous repackaging of genes – Dorper sheep

The story of the Dorper sheep demonstrates the property of producing lambs at any time of the year.
complex nature of gene flows, and the continuous These sheep were initially known as Portland sheep,
recomposition of traits which breeders undertake in but were then improved by mating with Southdown
response to changing market conditions. Dorper sheep animals.
were created in the 1930s in South Africa by crossing
Black Headed Persians with Dorset Horns. In 1995 Dorpers were imported to Germany, where
they are gaining popularity because they do not
The Black Headed Persian breed actually has require labour-intensive shearing in a situation where
nothing to do with Persia, but was the result of four the market for wool has declined. Australian Dorper
animals from Somalia that reached South Africa in breeding animals are now exported to Viet Nam and
1868 on a ship that had originated in Persia, but India. Furthermore, the Dorper has been crossed
which picked up the sheep in Somalia. One of the four with the Damara, a South African fat-tail breed to
sheep died, but the remaining animals formed the produce the Damper breed. Damper rams are crossed
nucleus for a Black Headed Persian population which with Merino ewes to produce mutton animals which
was registered in the South African stud book in 1906. are shipped from Australia to the Middle East for
slaughter.
The Dorset Horn breed had originated from
crossing Spanish sheep with native English stock Source: Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information
during the sixteenth century. It had the unique System (DAGRIS) http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org/ (2006).

FIGURE 24
Gene flow of improved Awassi and Assaf sheep from Israel

United Albania
Kingdom

Spain Hungary

Mediterranean Bulgaria Eastern Europe and
Countries Romania Central Asia
Former Yugoslavia
Portugal Kyrgyzstan

Italy

Cyprus Kazakhstan

Turkey Islamic Republic of Iran

Israel Near and Middle
East
Jordan
United Arab Emirates

Peru

Ethiopia

Tropical India New
Countries Zealand

Myanmar Australia Southwest Pacific

Source: Rummel et al. (2006).

64

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

Other African breeds have remained more or With the exception of the top few widely
less confined to the continent. Examples are the distributed breeds, goat breeds are much less
Fulani from West Africa (ten countries), the Uda widespread than either cattle or sheep. The
from around Lake Chad (nine countries), and the top eight breeds (Saanen, Anglo-Nubian, Boer,
Black Maure from Mauritania (six countries). All Toggenburg, Alpine, West African Dwarf, Angora
these breeds are kept by pastoralists, who migrate and Creole) are all distributed in 24 or more
long distances and trade in livestock – accounting countries and in several regions (Figure 19).
for the widespread distribution of these breeds in However, there is then a sharp drop: the next
contiguous countries. most successful breed is the Sahelian, which is
found in only 14 countries, all but one of which
Breeds from Asia and the Near and are in West Africa. All in all, fewer goat breeds
Middle East have spread outside their home areas. Only three
In contrast to Asian cattle, very few sheep breeds breeds (Saanen, Anglo-Nubian and Toggenburg)
from these regions have spread outside their are reported from all regions of the world. In
home ranges – despite the fact that Asia has developed countries, the number of goat breeds
around 40 percent of the world’s sheep. The fell drastically during the twentieth century as a
exceptions are the Karakul and the Awassi. The result of the increasing importance of cattle.
Karakul, an ancient breed from Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan, is now found in substantial Breeds with European ancestry
numbers in southern Africa, and has also spread Purely European breeds account for only six of the
to India, Australia, Brazil, Europe and the United top 25 breeds (those distributed in five or more
States of America (Figure 23). The Awassi, a breed countries). Most originate in the Alps, or were
originally from Iraq, was improved in Israel around bred from stock coming from this area (Saanen,
the 1960s, and has since spread to 15 countries Toggenburg and various other Alpine breeds).
in southern and eastern Europe, Central Asia, Also among the top breeds (ranked seventh) is
Australia and the Near and Middle East (Figures the Angora, a mohair breed from the area around
23 and 24). Transfer to tropical countries in Africa Ankara in modern-day Turkey. This ancient breed
and Asia has had only limited success (Rummel et fell out of fashion when Merino sheep became
al., 2006). increasingly available for wool production, but
with the resurgence of interest in mohair in the
3.3 Goats 1970s, several countries started to improve their
Angora populations (Alandia Robles et al., 2006).
Goats are of major economic significance
for smallholders in the South, particularly in All the six top European breeds are also found
ecologically marginal areas such as drylands and outside Europe. The Saanen dairy goat is the most
mountains, where other domestic animals cannot widely distributed breed – found in 81 countries
easily be kept. They are of limited importance in and in all regions of the world (Figure 25).
Northern agriculture, though some high-yielding European goats have also provided breeding
dairy breeds have been developed in central material for derivative breeds such as the Anglo-
Europe through upgrading local stock with dairy Nubian, Boer (Figure 26), Creole and Criollo.
breeds of Swiss origin. Rising living standards in
the Near and Middle East, and the migration of African breeds
people who prefer goat meat, have increased the African breeds make up seven of the 25 most
demand for meat goats, furthering the spread widely distributed goat breeds. They fall into two
of the Boer goat during the past few decades groups: composites (usually developed through
(Alandia Robles et al., 2006). crosses with European breeds), which are

65

THE STATE OF THE WORLD'S ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

PART 1

FIGURE 25
Distribution of Saanen goats

Saanen
Present
Not reported

FIGURE 26
Distribution of Boer goats

Boer

Present
Not reported

widespread outside Africa; and breeds that have Indian goats, and now reported from 56 countries
remained largely within Africa. In the former all over the world), the Boer (bred in South Africa
category are the Anglo-Nubian (developed in the from indigenous, European and Indian animals,
United Kingdom by crossing British, African and and now found in 53 countries), and the Criollo

66

THE STATE OF AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY IN THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR

(a Caribbean breed with African and European After 1945, national, regional and commercial
forebears). Breeds that have remained largely pig breeding programmes in Europe and North
confined to Africa include the West African Dwarf America began to develop. The primary focus
(25 countries), Sahelian, Small East African and was on home markets, but pure-breeds were also
Tuareg. Where they have been exported to other exported for cross-breeding: Hampshire, Duroc
countries, these breeds are kept in small numbers and Yorkshire from the United States of America
as experimental flocks or by hobby breeders. to Latin America and Southeast Asia; and Large
White (Figure 27) and Swedish Landrace from
Breeds from Asia and the Near and the United Kingdom to Australia, New Zealand,
Middle East South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe (Musavaya et
The mountains of Southwest and Central Asia al., 2006).
are the original home of goats. The wild bezoar
and markhor are still found there. Other breeds Box 10
from this region include the Cashmere, Damascus, Hybrid pigs
Syrian Mountain, Russian Central Asian Local
Coarse-Haired and its derivative the Soviet Mohair. Hybrid breeding programmes use crosses between
The Damascus has recently been improved in specialized sire and dam lines that have been
Cyprus and has gained international recognition developed through intense within-line selection of
as an outstanding dairy breed for tropical and breeds including German Landrace, Piétrain, German
subtropical regions. While population numbers Large White and Leicoma (Mathias and Mundy 2005).
have remained small, the breed has spread Whole herds of boars and gilts are exported as
around the Mediterranean basin (Alandia Robles grandparent and great-grandparent stock for breeding
et al., 2006). programmes in other countries and regions – a
process conducted under the supervision and often the
South Asia has over 200 million goats – one- ownership of the exporting company. The firms usually
quarter of the world’s population. However, do not sell pure-bred pigs except under contracts that
South Asian breeds are confined largely to prohibit or control pure-breeding. Furthermore, the
Asia. Only three make it into the top 25 breeds producers have to allow the breeding company to
worldwide – the Jamnapari, Beetal and Barbari. examine their record systems and to pay a “genetic
East Asia has another quarter of the world’s goat royalty” every time a new breeding animal produced
population, but none of the world’s top 25 breeds within the multiplication unit is transferred to the
(unless the Cashmere, whose range includes part breeding unit (Alandia Robles et al., 2006).
of the subregion, is included).
The largest commercial suppliers of breeding pigs
Other breeds are the British firm PIC (now Genus), which dominates
Three breeds developed in the Americas make it the market in the United States of America, JSR (also
into the top 25: the Creole, the Criollo and the based in the United Kingdom), and Topigs and Hyporc
La Mancha. All were developed from animals of the Netherlands.
imported by European colonists.
For reasons of biosecurity, some companies sustain
3.4 Pigs nucleus breeding herds in Canada. PIC, for example,
has such a herd in Saskatchewan. Many international
In the eighteenth century, small light-boned pigs pig transfers originate from this herd, which contains
from China and Southeast Asia were brought to breeds or lines sourced from all over the world
Europe. The combination of European and Asian (Alandia Robles et al., 2006).
genetic material laid the foundation for the
creation of modern European pig breeds.

67